Kiwis living in the South Island city of Dunedin often refer to their home patch as New Zealand’s greatest hidden gem. To prove that Aussies travellers don’t know what they’re missing, the local tourism organisation commissioned a survey of 1,000 Australians to truly unearth what travellers do and don’t know!
The research revealed that 37% of the Australian population don’t know where Dunedin is and over 50% of Aussies can’t even pronounce it. To top it off, nearly a third (32%) think it’s the country’s eighth largest city (in case you were wondering, it’s fourth largest after Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch).
“If Dunedin was a pub quiz category, it’s safe to say not many Aussies will be taking home the meat tray,” said John Christie Director Enterprise Dunedin.
“Our sense is that Aussies feel like they know New Zealand well from a ski trip to Queenstown or a business trip to Auckland. But, the truth is that there is so much more to explore and once people come here they fall in love with the place,” Christie added.
To spark that romance, Enterprise Dunedin invited Richie Strahan from The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise fame, to Dunedin. He explored the city and region for four days at the start of the city’s winter season and says it’s without a doubt his new travel love interest.
“I’ll be the first to admit, I knew very little about Dunedin until the opportunity to visit arose. I arrived over-dressed and ready for some kind of Arctic expedition, but soon found myself in a
t-shirt and shorts exploring the city and its Otago Peninsula – a wildlife mecca in the Southern Hemisphere. I instantly hit it off with the vibe of Dunedin – from street art, craft breweries, laneways and welcoming locals that ooze character,” said Strahan about his experience.
“When I saw the research, it didn’t shock me as it wasn’t somewhere that had been on my radar either. It was a huge surprise to discover a buzzing city just minutes from rare wildlife and with all of the majestic scenery that New Zealand is renowned for.
Whilst in Dunedin, Strahan experienced a range of exhilarating activities including mountain biking and V8 trike riding and ventured through the city indulging in chocolate, brewery, wildlife and foodie tours whilst staying in the city’s newest boutique hotel. His experiences will be made into a short film to share with other Australians, helping them to discover what Dunedinites have long known as New Zealand’s greatest hidden gem.
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